The Karnataka government is all set to scrap the Common Entrance Test -- the key examination to get admission into any professional college in Karnataka.
Since the CET started 21 years ago, lakhs of students from across the country have appeared in the examination, aiming to get a seat in a medical, engineering or dental college in the state.
The Karnataka Examination Authority will now take up the responsibility of conducting the entrance examination from the CET cell.
The government decided to scrap the cell as its functions were limited to conducting only entrance tests.
Although the examination module has not been specified yet, the KEA will have a bigger job on its hand compared to the CET cell, said Medical Education Minister Dr V S Acharya.
The KEA will also conduct recruitment examinations for banks which have their headquarters in Karnataka, like Canara Bank and Syndicate Bank. The government body will also conduct examinations to recruit personnel for various state departments.
Currently, students seeking admission in a professional college have the choice of appearing for either of the two entrance examinations, held by the government and private colleges respectively.
While the KEA will conduct the examination for the government quota, private colleges will conduct another examination for the management quota.
However, the tussle between the state government and private colleges about conducting admission tests will continue in spite of the formation of the KEA.
The government has already made it clear that private professional colleges will not be allowed to participate in the KEA.
This will ensure another tussle about the percentage of seats to be shared.
The KEA has assured that the examination and the admission procedure will be absolutely transparent.
The KEA will be an autonomous body and it will commence work once the CET cell completes this year's counseling sessions.
